Toronto’s best menswear stores right now

Philip Sparks gives a vintage inflection to his designs Photograph by Daniel Neuhaus

Philip Sparks

130 Cawthra Ave., Unit 107, 647-348-1827
Philip Sparks brings classic silhouettes and tailoring to his collections of separates, handmade leather satchels, shoes and eyewear. At his new tailoring workshop and boutique in the Junction, he offers custom suits starting at $2,000, a small selection of ready-to-wear pieces and preppy accessories like paisley-print pocket squares and bow ties made from vintage wool. Our favourite pieces are Sparks’ impeccably slim blazers.

Garrison Weddings Photograph by Dave Gillespie

Garrison Weddings

37 King St. E., 416-566-2041
Most men go to Michael Nguyen’s elegant wedding boutique (a spinoff of Garrison Bespoke) for classic tuxes. But Nguyen welcomes risk takers, like the Bay Street lawyer who commissioned a $28,000 turquoise tux threaded with sapphires. Group-fitting sessions often double as boozy bachelor parties—Nguyen even set up a beer-pong station once. Superfans can have their tux jacket lined with their favourite team’s colours. Drake had one made with a vintage Vince Carter Raptors jersey.

Park and Province

927 Queen St. W., 647-348-3311
The focus is on finely crafted basics for the modern gent—like raw denim and retro Asics. There’s also a great selection of casual button-downs made by Hawaii-influenced Aloha Sunday, natural skincare by Australia’s Grown Alchemist and tobacco-scented fragrances by the Virginia brand Sydney Hale. The Trinity Bellwoods location is spot-on—the perfect remedy for hipsters who spend their Saturdays shirtless in the park.

Lost and Found

44 Ossington Ave., 647-348-2810
This boutique–coffee shop hybrid left Dundas West last year to set up on the Ossington strip. Like its predecessor, the newer, larger space contains a well-chosen selection of casual clothing: checked shirts from Gitman Brothers, nautical watches by Miansai and the exact style of Alden boots that Harrison Ford wore onscreen as Indiana Jones.

Muttonhead Courtesy of Muttonhead

Muttonhead

337 Roncesvalles Ave., 647-341-4415
Muttonhead makes stylish casual gear beloved by downtown types. The unisex label, launched in 2009 by sisters Meg and Mel Sinclair, is best known for its cozy sweatshirts and hoodies (from $126), but the two-year-old Roncesvalles boutique carries a full complement of other stuff, too—casual shirts, shorts, pants and rugged accessories, like handmade leather belts by Vancouver’s Brand and Iron. The cuts are utilitarian, the fabrics are high-quality and every piece can easily transition from city life to weekends at the cottage.

Suitsupply

9-11 Hazelton Ave., 647-931-6270
The Dutch suiting chain occupies a two-storey Victorian in Yorkville. Between the mood lighting and blown-up photos of bikini-clad models, the ambiance is edgier than a typical men’s shop, and the prices are markedly lower: at $429–$1,069, the suits hit a sweet spot for men who love bespoke but have off-the-rack budgets. We’re smitten with a linen herringbone suit in the unstructured Havana fit, which is made with fabric from a 90-year-old Irish mill.

Kiton

114 Yorkville Ave., 416-323-0909
While Kiton’s premium suits have been available in Canada for some time (Harry Rosen sells the off-the-rack line and a few made-to-measure versions), the new Yorkville outpost is the first dedicated store in the country. If you have to ask about prices, they’re probably out of your league: made-to-measure ensembles can easily reach $20,000 (the handmade K50 model in Vicuna wool starts at $70,000). Naturally, the quality is impeccable: the brand has its own tailoring school and its exclusive Italian wool mill, Lanificio Carlo Barbera, is one of Europe’s best.

Gotstyle

21 Trinity St., 416-260-9696; 62 Bathurst St., 416-260-9696
The second location of Melissa Austria’s Bay Street boys’ club, located in a renovated Distillery District stable, features an excellent suit selection from brands like Ted Baker, Lab Pal Zileri and the house brand from Austria ($495–$1,200). It’s also a one-stop makeover shop: the tailoring studio provides free alterations, and the in-house barbershop offers cuts, beard trims and luxurious hot-towel shaves. The Distillery outlet adds women’s clothing and accessories to the mix, like pretty pendants from Wolf Circus.

Frank and Oak Photograph by Jenna Marie Wakani

Frank and Oak

735 Queen St. W., 647-930-8711
Guys who spent their teens and early 20s loping around in band tees and flannels source their grown-up gear from this new store on Queen West, which started out as a popular online shop. It’s a wellspring of affordable basics: slim-fitting button-downs from $55, cotton crewneck sweaters for $65 and Italian leather messenger bags for $245. The corner compound is more than just a shop: customers who care to linger can sip Jimmy’s coffee in the chic café, or get a cool haircut at the retro barbershop in the back.